Scaling or climbing device.



L. L. ALLEN.

SCALING OR CLIMBING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

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WITNESSES;

L. L. ALLEN.

SCALING 0R CLIMBING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1909.

i 72 Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

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s a n LYMAN L. ALLEN, OF TUCKERTON, NEW JERSEY.

SCALING R CLIMBING DEVICE.

Application filed September 30, 1909. Serial No. 520,237.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMAN L. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tuckerton, in the county of Ocean and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scaling or Climbing Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in scaling or climbing devices.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be simple, strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive in construction and on which a person may quickly and safely ascend or descend.

WVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the ladder with parts broken away and in section; Fig. 2 is a side or edge view; Fig. 3 is a vertical section; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section; Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal and transverse sectional views through the hand grip; and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the base member.

The device comprises two parallel side bars 1 united by one or more intermediate cross bars or braces 2, a top member 3 and a bottom or base member 4. The opposing inner faces of the bars 1 are formed with longitudinal grooves 5 having ratchet teeth 6 upon their bottoms, and while said bars 1 may be made of metal, they are preferably made of wood and the ratchets 6 are covered by metal wear strips 7. The braces 2 are of U-shape and have their forwardly projecting ends 8 secured to the outer side faces of the bars 1. The top member or cap 3 is preferably in the form of a channeled metal bar having longitudinal side flanges 9 and depending end flanges 10 between which flanges the bars 1 are suitably secured. The lower connecting member or base 4 is similar in construction having in addition to side flanges 11 and end flanges 12, depending spurs 13 arranged at the ends of its bottom and adapted to prevent the device from slipping when in use.

The body or framework of the ladder above described is further strengthened by a centrally arranged longitudinally extending member 14 in the form of a cylindrical rod or pole which serves the further purpose of a guide for two sliding foot pieces 15. This guide member or pole 14 preferably has its lower end screwed into the base 4 and its upper end projecting through a central opening in the top member 3 and provided with a retaining nut, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The foot pieces are arranged on opposite sides of the guide member 14 and have their inner edges formed with curved longitudinally extending grooves 16 to receive the latter and their outer edges grooved or reduced to provide ribs 17 which slide in the grooves 5 of the side bars 1. In the foot pieces are formed openings 18 to receive the feet of the operator and also mounted in suitable openings or recesses in the outer side portions of said foot pieces are spring projected pawls or dogs 19 to co act with the ratchet 6. The dogs 19 are pivoted intermediate their ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and have their lower ends projected outwardly by coil spring 20 arranged beneath said ends. Said dogs are adapted to be retracted by slidably mounted pins 21 adapted to engage the upper ends of said dogs and to be actuated by spring pressed trip members 22 arranged in suit-- able recesses in the slides 5 so that said trip members form the outer side walls of the foot receiving openings 18. Owing to this construction, it will be seen that when the foot is swung laterally or sidewise in an outward direction to actuate the trip member 22 the co-acting dog 19 will be retracted. To permit of ready access to the parts in the recessed portions of the foot pieces or slides 15, removable cover plates 23 are suitably secured to the side faces of the same.

24 denotes cushioning members of rubber or other elastic material arranged on the bottom edges of the foot pieces or slides 15 so as to prevent jar when the foot pieces strike the base 4.

25 denotes a slidable hand grip arranged on the upper portion of the guide pole 14-. This grip is of cylindrical form and is divided longitudinally into two similar half sections adapted to be frictionally retained in any adjusted position on the pole 14 by means of upper and lower coil springs or equivalent elastic bands 26 arranged in grooves 27 formed in the half-sections adjacent their upper and lower ends. The opening or bore of the hand grip is lined with inc oiled leather or similar material 28 which will assist the springs 26 in frictionally clamping the sectional hand grip on the pole 14. Longitudinal shifting movement of the two sections of the hand grip with respect to each other is prevented by providing on the flat opposing faces of said sections dowel pins 29 to enter suitable recesses in the opposing section. The hand grip is also provided with a wrist receiving loop 30 of leather or other flexible material.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without a more extended explanation.

Vhile I have shown and described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it understood that various changes in the form, proportion, arrangement of parts and details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. A scaling or climbing device compris ing a supporting structure having longitudinal ratchet members, a pair of independently slidable foot pieces in said structure, a pawl upon each of said foot pieces to coaet with one of said longitudinal ratchet members, and a retracting means for each of said pawls including a part mounted for movement on the foot piece and adapted to be engaged and actuated by the operators foot.

2. A scaling or climbing device comprising a supporting structure having longitudinal ratchet members and an intermediate guide member, foot pieces slidably arranged between said members and locking pawls carried by the foot pieces to co-act with said ratchet members. I

3. A scaling or climbing device compris ing a supporting structure having longitudinal ratchet members and an intermediate guide member, toot pieces slidably arranged between said members, locking pawls carried by the foot pieces to co-act with said ratchet members and a hand grip slidable on said guide.

at. A scaling or climbing device comprising a supporting structure having longitudinal ratchet members and an intermediate guide member, foot pieces slidably arranged between said members and formed with foot receiving openings, spring pressed pivotally mounted pawls carried by the foot pieces to co-act with said ratchet members, and movable pawl retracting members arranged in the foot receiving openings of said foot pieces.

5. A scaling or climbing device comprising side bars having their opposing inner faces formed with longitudinal grooves, the latter having ratchet teeth in their bottoms, upper, lower and intermediate connecting bars, a longitudinally and centrally ar ranged guide pole between said upper and lower bars, slidable foot pieces having foot receiving openings, the inner edges of said foot pieces being slidably engaged with said guide pole and their outer edges being slidably engaged with the grooved inner faces of the side bars, spring pressed locking pawls in the foot pieces to engage said ratchet teeth, pawl retracting trip members in the foot receiving openings of the foot pieces and a sectional. hand grip slidably arranged on the guide pole and frictionally retained in adjusted position thereon.

6-. A scaling or climbing device comprising a supporting structure having longitudinal ratchet members, a pair of independently slidable foot pieces in said structure and having openings to receive the operators feet, a pawl on each of said foot pieces to engage one of said ratchet members, and a laterally movable trip member arranged in the opening in each of said foot pieces and adapted to be actuated by the lateral movement of the operators foot for the purpose of retracting the pawl on such foot piece. a

7 A scaling or climbing device comprising a supporting structure having side and intermediate longitudinal guide members, foot pieces slidably arranged between said members, and co-actin'g locking devices on the members and foot pieces.

8. A scaling or climbing device comprising a supporting structure having side members and an intermediate guide pole, slidable foot pieces between said pole and said side members, co-acting locking devices between the foot pieces and side members, a longitudinally divided sectional hand grip slidable on said pole, and a spring for drawing together the sections of the hand grip to cause the latter to be frictionally retained in adjusted position on the pole.

9. A scaling or climbing device comprising side bars, channeled end pieces to receive the ends of said side bars, a pole arranged between the side bars and having its ends united to said channeled end bars, substantially U-shaped braces uniting the intermediate portions of the side bars and adapted to space the structure away from a support, 't'oot pieces slidably arranged between the pole and side bars, and locking means for said foot pieces.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LYMAN L. ALLEN.

Vitnesses H. G. KEELER, GEO. F. RANDOLPH. 

